Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-04-24
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Combined
C108S050010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220182
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computerized workstations for printing labels, forms, and the like, and more particularly to a novel workstation suited for use and service of dual printers supported thereby.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, computerized postal workstations for printing labels, forms, cards, and the like have generally comprised a large table having sufficient surface area to support a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, and at least one attached printer while leaving space for collecting, sorting, and/or processing the printed output. It is commonplace in workstations of this type to find thermal printers dedicated to high volume use, and consequently it is necessary to restock such printers with labels, cards, etc., and to change printing ribbons or cartridges on a regular basis. In workstations comprising a large table-top, access to a primary and/or a secondary printer is often restricted, particularly if the printer is located at a rear portion of the table and the rear portion of the table abuts against a wall, and disruption of workstation operation becomes necessary to perform printer maintenance tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a workstation for high volume computerized printing and processing operations that offers ergonomic placement of computer components, as well as convenient location of both a primary and a secondary printer for receiving and processing output therefrom. It is a related object of the present invention to provide such a workstation wherein the primary and secondary printers are each readily accessible for changing ribbons, sheet stock, card stock, labels, etc., and for performing service and repair.
A workstation formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a main support surface elevated by a plurality of legs. The main support surface includes a rear portion and a front portion having an open cut-out region sized to receive a person, for example an operator or service technician, to bring the rear portion of the main support surface within the comfortable reach of such person. A worksurface is pivotally connected to the front portion of the main support surface by a hinge and normally resides in a horizontal working position to close the open cut-out region and simultaneously close an upwardly facing compartment opening of a storage compartment located adjacent to the cut-out region. The rear portion of the main support surface is intended to support a primary printer, a monitor mount, and a secondary printer, while the worksurface provides an area for a keyboard and mouse. The worksurface pivots from its working position to a vertical servicing position to enable an operator or service technician to occupy the exposed cut-out region to facilitate access to the primary printer as needed. The secondary printer is situated atop an auxiliary support surface slidably mounted on the main support surface for movement between the rear and front portions of the main support surface, and a tray for receiving output from the secondary printer normally extends laterally from the worksurface to reside above a forward portion of the travel path of the auxiliary support surface. The tray is pivotally connected to the worksurface to allow it to be removed from above the travel path so that the auxiliary support surface and secondary printer can be slid forward to the front portion of the main support surface as needed.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the lateral positions of the storage compartment and worksurface hinge are interchanged, and the tray is pivotally connected to the storage compartment.
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Duffy Joseph T.
James Paul A.
Chen José V.
Moore North America Inc.
Simpson Simpson & Snyder LLP
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